Love you to the moon and back, honey

Artorias saw the look in Briar's gorgeous turquoise eyes when he asked what she wanted to do first now that they'd reached their destination, the thinly veiled grin she wore betraying all of her salacious innermost thoughts that mirrored his own. He smirked back at her and rolled his eyes, taking the offered water gratefully and downing a healthy swallow. Being surrounded by saltwater meant they would need to travel briefly inland to resupply their water every so often—especially at the rate they were drinking it with all their vigorous activities—but thankfully they'd passed by a fire freshwater streams on the way to the shore. Besides, this location had been idyllic and isolated, everything the young couple wanted as the backdrop to their personal time alone on their honeymoon while they ravaged and enjoyed one another thoroughly and exhaustively. It was probably a good thing they hadn't waited until the Austral winter to get married while Briar was in heat, or the couple would definitely have been coming back home as expecting parents to be. The thought made Artorias grin and chuckle to himself, the idea of being a father getting pushed far into the recesses of his mind for now. Right now, he just wanted to enjoy giving all of his time and attention and love to his new wife and mate, his queen, his Briar.

Briar liked the idea of a dip in the lagoon. It did sound lovely after their trek in the hot summer sun, and Artorias nodded assent to show he'd be joining her. He gave a happy hum when her lips caught his in a quick kiss that he happily returned before giving pause to watch Briar saunter off towards the edge of the water, the young brute's fire-emblazoned eyes watching the way her shapely hips shifted and swayed with every graceful stride she made, her intricately braided tail bobbing to and fro from her back end enticingly. Tearing his gaze away, Art finished stowing away the last of their supplies before he made his way over to the edge of the lagoon, toes treading through soft sea grasses and warm sand. The Carpathian man was dipping his toes into the cool water when Briar turned to look over her shoulder at him, commenting on how good the water felt. Artorias loved the water and had no reservations in making his way deeper into the clear blue surf. The waters of the lagoon were calm and tranquil, barely making so much as a gentle ripple while the ocean waters lapped and waved at the shore shielding them. Down in the crystalline lagoon, Art could see a myriad of fish and sea life milling about, doing their own thing. The water darkened near the center of the pool, likely deeper than the rest. That was fine; Artorias was only going over to relax beside Briar anyway.

Artorias waded easily through the shoals to where his beautiful mate lay in the water, smiling down at her while amber eyes shone with a deep and soulful love for her. "Mind if your husband joins you?" he teased her, settling his larger body down beside hers on the soft sands and into the cooling water. Where the water came up to Briar' sides, on the taller Artorias the surface just lapped at his ribs and thighs. Like hers, his bushy tail also began to float lazily on the water, and everywhere he lay underwater, his thick fur melted and clung to his body, highlighting and emphasizing the sleek and toned muscles hidden beneath his coat. Snuggling up to his wife's side, Artorias gently rested one foreleg over hers beneath the water, holding her paw with his own while he craned his neck down to tenderly lick and nibble along her forehead, the base of her ears, and back of her neck, showing her little affections and grooming her in the process. "You chose the perfect location for our honeymoon, my love. Scenic, tranquil... private..." Artorias said the last bit with a sly smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth in a crooked grin, eyes flashing mischievously while he gazed down at her with nothing short of true love.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"